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Rendon more comfortable in Nats' clubhouse

4/22/13: Anthony Rendon collects his first Major League hit and RBI, slugging a double to the wall in right-center to even the score at 2

By Bill Ladson
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MLB.com |

WASHINGTON -- Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon entered Friday 2-for-15 (.133) with an RBI since being called up to the big leagues last Sunday.

Rendon acknowledged that he is going through a learning curve, trying to make adjustments and doing the best that he can. He said the nerves went away Wednesday. He now feels comfortable, thanks to his teammates, who are constantly talking to him.

"Coming into the locker room a couple of times and seeing the guys every day, they are getting a little more comfortable with me," Rendon said. "They are talking to me a little more. They are making me feel comfortable. It puts me a little bit at ease. It takes a little bit of stuff off my shoulders, so I can just relax. It's still the same game. I don't need to take it out of context."

Rendon has been on the bench of late as manager Davey Johnson has been starting Steve Lombardozzi at third base. Johnson is using Lombardozzi to jump-start an offense that is near the bottom in the National League. But Johnson said he considers Rendon one of the 25 guys on the roster, but did not say when Rendon would be back in the lineup.

"Lombo has been playing good, and it's a little more difficult when I'm looking for somebody in the lineup to set the table, and [Rendon] is not in that category," Johnson said. "Nothing against his ability, I'm trying to create a lineup that kind of feeds off itself. I'm going about it day by day. I don't like to change a winner. Nothing against Anthony Rendon, he is a heck of a player, he is going to have a heck of career. But we are in the here and now. I'm worried about 25 guys. He'll be back in there."

Rendon noticed the game in the Major Leagues is played a lot more intelligently.

"The people here know how to play the game up here. They are not just using their power, talent, this and that. … They play the game smart, they play the game the right way," Rendon said.